Becoming a Freelancer is intimidating yet exciting. The idea of working for yourself is a dream for many, but the reality is that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to really become successful. One question many new freelancers ask is whether or not it’s a good idea to work full time on Upwork.
Working full time on Upwork is definitely possible. Especially if you have the skills and experience to make yourself stand out among the competition, clients will be more likely to hire you for higher paying jobs. However, it’s important to keep in mind that success on Upwork does not happen overnight. It takes time and consistent effort to build up a solid reputation and attract high-paying clients. Making a living on Upwork is also volatile as you could get kicked off of Upwork for a mistake or have periods of slow work.
A couple of years ago, i’m not so sure i would have said yes to this question. But now, with the right skills and dedication, I can confidently say that it is possible to make a living on Upwork.
This is due to freelance workers becoming more prominent in the workforce. In the rest of this blog post we will go over some tips to help you become successful on Upwork and potentially make a living off of it.
First You Need To Make sure You Get Approved By Upwork
If you haven’t yet, make sure you’re able to get approved by Upwork first. Otherwise, this question is useless. Sometimes Upwork will deny someone looking to work as a Freelancer because they don’t have a demand for the specific skill set or they believe the applicant doesn’t have enough experience.
Another way you may not get approved is if you don’t pass the test Upwork gives you as a freelancer. Let’s say you put that you want to be a freelance writer, they may make you take a grammar test or a writing test to show your skills.
So before you even start thinking about making a living on Upwork, make sure you can join the platform in the first place.
Make Things Personal
Once you get accepted by Upwork and begin to use your connects to find work, you need to make things personal. This means explaining to potential clients in depth how you could help them and why you’re the best fit for their job.
A lot of people say the same things over and over again which results in them blending in with the crowd and not standing out.
For example, when I applied to the freelance writing job I currently have, I explained my background in blogging and how I was able to get traffic to my personal blog. I also sent a link to my blog. Lastly, I told them I would be a good match because I had a lot of extra time during the day to get work done.
They reached out to me almost instantly, and I now have retainer with them to post monthly content.
You Need To Make Sure Your Skills Have The Potential Of Earning a Full time Income
Certain skills make more money than others on Upwork. If you want to make a full time income being a virtual assistant, or a customer service representative on Upwork your income upside may not be as high as some other skills.
Some skills that have high earning potential on Upwork include web development, graphic design, copywriting, and social media management.
It’s a good idea to watch YouTube videos and read blogs about all of the high earning skills to see which one you’re most interested in.
Once you figure it out, consider taking a course or investing in education to learn the skill. This will make you stand out from other freelancers and attract higher paying clients.
I took the Passive income Geek blogging course which allowed me to learn the skills possible to make a good income as a freelance writer.
Be Consistent And Dedicated
Making a living on Upwork takes time and consistency. You need to constantly be applying for jobs, networking with potential clients, and completing work in a timely manner.
Your very first client may not give you the opportunity to make a full time income right away. After you prove your worth, you could begin to ask for more money.
Eventually if you’re consistent enough a company may offer you a full time job within the company or a retainer to work for them consistently.
This is the goal, because at that point you could get off of Upwork and avoid the fees they charge.
Never Cut Ties With Your Clients
One mistake I see a lot of freelancers make, is that once they finish a job for a client, they never talk to them again. This is not the best way to go about things because those clients can potentially give you repeat work or refer you to someone else.
Make sure to always send thank you emails, and follow up with past clients to see if they have anything going on. They may have a job for you and if you stay fresh in their brain, they’ll be more likely to think of you.
Should Someone Set The Goal To Work On Upwork Full Time?
As we mentioned above, working full time on Upwork is volatile. There are many things that could potentially change, like the fees Upwork charges, or the competition on the platform.
However, you could become a full time freelancer if you utilize multiple platforms to get to that point. Upwork could serve as one portion of your income, while you also do freelance work outside the platform, or even have a side hustle.
You can even become a full time freelancer without using Upwork at all, but if you have Upwork available to you, it couldn’t hurt to try and utilize it for some extra income.
When Should You Decide To Work as an Upwork Freelancer Full Time?
Ultimately, the decision to work as a full time Upwork freelancer should come when you feel secure in your income and are able to consistently find clients or jobs on the platform.
You should be able to make an income that surpasses your full time income before stopping your full time work. This way if things fall off slightly at any point, you will still be comfortable.
You should also have multiple sources of income. If your income is all coming from one client, it may not be a good idea. If that client decides to stop working with you, or the job ends, it could be difficult to find a replacement client quickly.
There’s Nothing Wrong With Doing Freelancing Part Time
Just because you don’t do it full time, there’s nothing wrong with being a part time freelancer on Upwork. This could serve as extra income and allow you to have more financial freedom.
For example, if you want to make an extra $900 per month, it wouldn’t hurt to get a client where you write one blog post per day for.
Just make sure that the company you work for allows for freelance work, as some companies may not allow it.
In Summary
Working full time on Upwork is a possibility, but it may not be the most stable option. It’s important to focus on high earning skills, consistency and dedication, maintaining relationships with clients, and utilizing multiple sources of income to reach your goal.
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